Malden High School - Maldonian Yearbook (Malden, MA)

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THE HISTORY OF MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL Edited by Sylvia Holmes 25417 ;? The public school system of Malden had its origin as far back as 1665, when Malden’s first free school was established, with Ezekiel Jen¬ kins as schoolmaster. This hard-working man received only thirty shill¬ ings a year and these are the words found on his gravestone at Sandy Banks: “Mauldons Late School Master From A Painful Life Is Gone To Take His Rest His Lord Has Called Him Whome.” The first school building was erected in 1712 at the corner of the present Main and Pleasant Streets, but it was destroyed in 1730, and the interest in education lessened. However, in 1783 the town established school quarters and regular sessions were held. Malden High School was founded in 1857, when the town voted to establish a free high school. A room was provided for it in the Old Centre Grammar School which stood where Grant’s department store is now. Mr. Joseph H. Noyes, with one assistant, supervised this school of thirty-eight pupils, and the four-year course included such subjects as philosophy, physiology, botany, surveying, and astronomy as well as the “solid and substantial’’ studies. The school grew until in 1859 it occupied two rooms in the townhouse, and the course of study contained a weekly lesson on “correct French accent’’ by Monsieur P. N. Gemgembre. Soon however the facilities be¬ came inadequate because of their bad ventilation, lack of space, and near¬ ness to the lockup.

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patrons Mr. Farnsworth G. Marshall Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Cora M. Hammond Chairman of the School Committee Hon. John D. Devir Mapor of Malden Mr. Thornton Jenkins, Head Master, Malden High School Mr. Fred J. Nash, Master, Head of the Latin Department Mr. John B. Matthews, Master, Head of the History Department Mr. Leroy M. Twichell, Sub-Master, Head of the Annex Mr. Winthrop L. Webb, Principal, Beebe Junior High School Mr. Herbert W. Fison, Librarian, Malden Public Library Miss Harriette M. Perkins, Director of Music, Malden Schools Mrs. Zivan Simonian, Ex-Adviser, Class of 1937 Miss Ruth E. Tucker, Chief Adviser, Class of 1938 Miss Christine M. MacLaughlin, Chief Adviser, Class of 1936 Mrs. Elin Benson Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Bowman Mr. and Mrs. Clarke R. Brookes Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Buffet Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Butler Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Carpenter Mrs. Arthur W. Cary Mr. and Mrs. Melville E. Cassavant Mr. Guy N. Christian Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Cuenin Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt Er3 Mrs. Madeline Flanders Judge and Mrs. Maurice R. Flynn Miss Aldine C. Gilman Mr. and Mrs. Philip Glaser Mr. and Mrs. Forest T. Goding Miss Marjorie L. Holbrook Mr. and Mrs. Edward O. Holmes, Jr. Mr. Charles W. Howard, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. George E. Kalem Miss B. Elizabeth Knight Mrs. Ethel Levin Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. McGeoch Miss Evelyn L. Moore Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Newtii I)r. and Mrs. Samuel P. Norman Mr. and Mrs. Rupert S. Ray Miss Annie F. Slattery Mr. and Mrs. William Thulin Mr. and Mrs. John William Topping Mr. Paul D. Turner Mr. and Mrs. F. Champlin Webster, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Harry B. Winne

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Mr. Charles A. Daniels, for whom the Daniels School is named, be¬ came headmaster in 1863, and the next year he started the school library, collecting $96.04 by asking each pupil to contribute as near two dollars as possible. Since then our library has steadily increased until today it contains about 3800 volumes. In 1872, for the first time Malden High had a building of its own. Its ninety-four pupils and four teachers were housed in the present Manual Arts Building, then considered one of the finest buildings in the state. Horse cars ran from South Malden (Everett) every two hours, but in the winter the pupils sometimes had to walk to school because the cars could not run in the heavy snow. Each pupil was required to bring a bowl, a nail brush, one towel, and soap, and water was furnished by a pump. One of the library rules was “The hands of the borrower should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.” Mr. George F. Gay, known as one of the progressive educators of his day, succeeded Mr. Daniels in 1883 and was responsible for placing in the Paris Exposition, an exhibition of the work done in the Malden Public Schools. Mr. William F. Palmer became principal in 1896, and the new high school, designed to satisfy the needs of the community for the next twenty years, was opened. The curriculum had been gradually expanded, and in 1877 a two-year business course was adopted, later to be increased to four years. The scientific and normal courses, were added in 1887 and 1896 respectively. In 1897 the position of headmaster was turned over to Mr. John W. Hutchins, who was noted for his efficiency, powers of organization, and long hours of work for the welfare of the school. During his term the building was extended eastward more than its own length and the Manual Arts Building was moved to its present site. Mr. Arthur Lee became principal in 1908 and through his efforts, supervised extra-curriculum activities were adopted, and the school made steady progress. Mr. Thornton Jenkins succeeded him in 1915 and under his able lead¬ ership the school has retained its high rank among the secondary schools of the country. In 1925, with the inauguration of the junior high school system, the high school course was shortened from four years to three, and by 1928 it became necessary to use the Old Centre Grammar School for the overflow of pupils. Thereafter the sophomore home rooms were in this building, popularly called The Annex, and students found it neces¬ sary to walk back and forth across Ferry Street between classes. In an effort to eliminate this and many other adverse conditions, and adequately accommodate the student body of over eighteen hundred pupils, Mayor John D. Devir, in 1936, proposed a new high school, with the in¬ tention of receiving forty-five per cent of the cost of construction from the Federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.), and having the city supply the other fifty-five per cent of the necessary million dollars. The first bond issue in 1936 was approved by the Board of Aldermen but re¬ jected by the City Council, and after a year of spirited debate on the subject, the needed approval was given by both houses of our city govern¬ ment on April 13, 1937. Work on the new school was started, and thus another era in the history of Malden High School was begun. May the future be bright!